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1?. GERRARD.

RAILWAY TORPEDO AND DETONATING) SIGNAL;

Patented Jan. 3,1882.

IJV'VEWTOR WITNESSES .dttorneys N, PETERS. PhulmLflhogr-lpher. Washington. a, a

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK GERRARD, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO EDWIN B. SHERWOOD, OF SAME PLACE.

RAlLWAY-TORPEDO AND DETONATING SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,868, dated January 3, 1882.

' Applicationfiled November 17, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK GERRARD, of Scranton, in the county of Lackawauna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Tor pedoes and Detonati n g Signals; and I do here by declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to'make and use the same, reference bcinghad to the accompanyingdrawings,which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan,

' or detonating signals; and it consists in cermin improvements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in-the claims.

' The object of my invention is to so construct and arrange the torpedo that it shall not be liable to be pushed off the rail by the wheels of the passing train which it is desired to warn, as has heretofore frequently happened. To accomplish this result I construct the torpedo as I shall now proceed to describe with reference to the drawings, in which- A represents the box or case, which is covered with sand or similar gritty substance filled with the detonating compound, and provided with a strap, B, of ductile metal, for securing it to the rail in the usual manner.

At right angles or transversely to the strap B is secured anotherstrap, O, which, when the torpedo is adjusted, lies longitudinally upon the head of the rail, as shown in Fig. 1. When a train approaches, the wheel will first mount the strap 0, thus holding the torpedo securely and making its explosion infallible.

It is evident that either one of the straps B C may be used for securing the torpedo upon the rail.

In Figs. 3 and at I have shown a modification, which consists in making the strap 0 detachable and providing it with a hook, D, formed by bending one end, by which it may be adjustedupon the strap B and laid upon the head of the rail in the direction of the approaching train which it is desired to warn. In this case I prefer to make the upper and lower sides of the shell or case serrated, as at E, or to provide it with a serrated casing of rubber or other material, which will cause the wheel to adhere to and explode the torpedo.

In Fig.5 I have shown a torpedo provided with the usual holding-strap, B, and having its shell simply covered with sand orsimilar gritty. substance, which will sometimes alone be sufficient to prevent the displacement of the torpedo. The said gritty material may be caused to adhere to the shell by means of paint, varnish, glue, or the like.

In damp and frosty weather the rails are often so slippery that it is almost impossible to so adj ustthe ordinary torpedoes in such a manner as to insure their explosion, While by my invention it is rendered absolutely certain under all circumstances.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. Arailway-torpedo havi ngits shell serrated or covered with gritty substance, substantially as set forth.

2. A railway-torpedo having its shell serrated or covered with gritty substance, and having holding-strap B and auxiliary strap O, se-

cured permanently or detachably transversely to said'holding-strap, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK GERRARD.

Witnesses:

EDWIN B. SHERWOOD, HENRY G. HALL. 

